MotoGP: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Prepare for Sachsenring

After a rainy weekend in the Netherlands two weeks ago, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP looks ahead to a new race weekend full of action in Germany for the Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland at the Sachsenring circuit. The TT in Assen saw Valentino Rossi ride from the back of the field to an impressive fifth place while Jorge Lorenzo faced a tough challenge in uncertain conditions. Both riders are looking forward to a more orderly race this weekend during the German GP.

Though Rossi finds Sachsenring challenging he has won four MotoGP races at the circuit and has stood on the German rostrum ten times over his whole career. This year the Italian aims to finish on the podium for a second consecutive year, and create a gap between him and the man in third place, Dani Pedrosa. Both Rossi and Pedrosa are currently tied on 128 championship points.

Teammate Lorenzo missed the GP of Germany last year due to emergency surgery after a fall during FP2. This year the Spaniard hopes to change his fortunes as he shows the German public his Spartan spirit. Prior to 2013’s missed race Lorenzo has four consecutive second place finishes at Sachsenring but has yet to grace the top step of the podium.

Sachsenring has a long history of hosting motorsport events. The first race was held at this track in 1927, but due to safety issues it was decided that the circuit needed to be rebuilt in 1996. It wasn’t until 1998 that the Sachsenring track hosted its first MotoGP event, but even within these last 16 years the circuit has seen many improvements take place, including a drastic layout enhancement in 2001. The numerous tight corners and the 12m width of the tarmac make this circuit one of the slower tracks on the calendar where it’s hard to overtake, but there is still plenty of close racing action that keeps the fan coming back for more.

46 – Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi – Photo @FeliceMonteleone FMPhotoSport

“I am very happy to go to Sachsenring after the contract renewal with Yamaha for another 2 years. I’ve been saying that we are very close to signing for many races and finally we did it! For me it is really important, I am very happy! At Assen we did a good race but at the Sachsenring we’ll try to do better. I like the track; it’s very difficult, very tricky and very small. In the last few years it was not so bad, especially with the Yamaha. It’s strange and something different, but it’s always good to ride MotoGP there. In Germany we can also have issues with the weather. It is always difficult, so we hope for good weather so we can make a good result.”

99 – Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo – Photo @FeliceMonteleone FMPHotoSport

“After a disappointing race at Assen where we expected much more I’m right now focused on the next race. Sachsenring is not one of my favorite circuits, especially after last year when I crashed again and I had a problem with the plate fixing my collarbone. After that crash I had to suffer another surgery and that issue changed it all. Despite this season where I don’t feel so lucky for so many different things, I’m looking forward to racing there and trying to revert the situation. The bike is working well and I can feel the support of all the team. I’m pretty optimistic as usual and I will never give up!”

Massimo Meregalli

“After a very unpredictable weekend in Assen we are all looking forward to getting to Germany and the Sachsenring circuit. Whilst the weather made Assen a very complicated race weekend, we were still able to show that we have a very competitive package in both wet and dry conditions. We do hope that this coming weekend we can finally experience one or the other to give us an opportunity to maximise this and get the results we know we are capable of.”